My Awesome Party!

My Awesome Party!

Oh man, you totally missed what was the most awesomest party in the whole world? Didn't you get my facebook invite? I wondered why you didn't click "attending" or even wish me a Happy Birthday. Don't worry, I'm sure you probably called and I missed it because the boom box was way too loud. The cops had to show up and tell us to turn it down. I thought they were totally wigging out. What do they expect me to do, listen to Kenny G NOT on the highest setting? Puh-leeeeease Mr. oink-oink. I aint' having that shit.

But yeah, I must have totally missed your call asking for directions. But if you were in the area you would see the smoke cloud of weed from at least three blocks away. For those of you who missed out, here's me with some mean balloons that I'm so going to try to kill myself with later. Why? Because no matter what happens in my life next, nothing will compare to the party I had..



I mean, it started out as an organized small party with a couple of friends but who knew that someone would bring a monkey dressed in people's clothing and man, after that fifth shot of the bacon infused vodka, this party... was OFF THE CHAINS!

Oh man, you really missed out. You see, my mom invited some of her friends over and, well let's keep this between you and me, but Ms. Cratchet is a total GILF and she was making eyes over to one of my totally real and NOT an imaginary friends named Enrique. And he so had his hands all over her. It's not like she was stopping him or anything. After a couple of sips of her special nite-nite tea, she's an anything goes type of person as I learned the hard way from my years of piano lessons.

Here she is at the start of the night.


You see that photographic proof that she chugged her drink before it even had a snow ball's chance in hell to press the camera button. Though in her defense, I don't have a digital camera. These were all taken with one of those old time 1920's camera where you have to stand still for a good 3 minutes for the exposure to capture your soul. So you can't really blame her for not being patient. She just loves her gin and juice.

But once that Manischewitz was flowing the party was off! We busted out a Yo Gabba Gabba cake that would make DJ Lance Rock green with brobee envy. Oh yeah, did I mention that we had plenty of potato chips? Oh man. Now you're completely jealous. We would have had Pizza if the pizza man didn't get lost. I mean, how hard was it to find my place? Seems like you guys and the Pizza dude just didn't know where I lived. It would have been awesome to have all 300 pizzas that I called in and ordered show up. But, you know us. we make do with what we have.



Even without Pizza we had an awesome time. At one point I remember that we all gathered around some computer parts and put it together quickly to install LINUX. I mean, can you really get any cooler than that? I didn't think so. The cops had to come back after the Kenny G situation because the neighbors thought we were making too much noise and being rowdy when installing software updates. Who doesn't get a little crazy when they're partitioning their hard drives. Come on neighbors. God, I'm sooo not going to cut their grass anymore. I don't care if they pay $10 an hour plus lemonade. You just don't ruin a 30 year old's birthday, you know!

Well, after calming every one down from some pretty wild Youtube clips we were streaming, as well as some old MTV music videos we were playing, all in glorious 1080p on the projection screen, we just had to come down from this high. I mean, you can't live on the edge like that forever you know. So then we got Jenga out. Yeaaah, special 9/11 limited collectors edition that look just like the twin towers. I drew in a little Robert Pattison on them just to make it seem more like Remember Me (trust me, I will never forget)



Look at my parents looking at us play Jenga. Sadly, the towers fell just like they lived. When Uncle Albert's belt buckle (picture above in a dress) busted off and flew into tower 1. There was no time to save the score. Then the real tragedy happened and he passed out on the floor falling out of his chair. Since my Uncle is a heavy set guy, the bounce his gut made on the awesome shag floor carpet just knocked over tower 2 with ease.

But don't worry, by that point me and my boys were all properly sauced and ready to go out of the nest and into the wild. I mean, we did just burn down the basement leaving the projector on for so long. So it's no big deal. We all totally got super laid when we went to the first bar around 2:30. Oh man, let me tell you, them really drunk ladies who are just stumbling around in the back puking their lungs out from alcohol poisoning so totally dig this now matured and aged like fine wine 30 something dude. Oooh yeah. Totally got to second base with her before dentures got stuck on my glass frames. Just look at us, who could turn down these studs?



Like I said, those inebriated laaaaaaaadies didn't stand a chance. So yeah, that's part of the party you missed. I can't remember the rest as I woke up this morning in a bathtub with ice all around me and a note saying to go to the Doctor. I'm sorry, whoever wrote that, but Obama's health care plan hasn't gone into effect. So I'm just going to wait for a bit before heading over to the E.R..

Besides, they say that 30 is the age that stuff starts shutting down. It's only natural for my body to stop working now. Besides, I potentially grabbed boob last night. Can you say the same? Hee... I didn't think so. Maybe next time you'll click in for the most awesome events that I'm throwing.. If you're cool enough to hang with this dude.

30 SOMETHING

30 SOMETHING

Today I turn 30. Yes, that's right. This exact moment that I posted this blog 30 years ago exactly is when an 8 pound 8 ounce little me came to be in this world. A few minutes ago I exited my 20's. I'm no longer some 20 something's dude and now I have to be some 30 something guy who's suppose to know what direction his life is going. Surprise, surprise. I still don't know. But that's okay. 30 is the new 20, right? I guess that sounds a little cliche. Little note, it is.

I guess the problem lays in the fact that throughout my 20's, I've had shitty birthday after shitty birthday after shitty birthday. I'm like a battered house wife who's arms involuntary lift to shield her face at the very sight of her husbands hand even moving upwards when it comes to birthday celebrations. For the last 15 years my parents would insist on wanting to take me out to celebrate it. "You like Lobster?! Let's go out and get some fresh lobster!" "I know how much you like Lasagna, let's go get some this weekend." "Oh man, I know how much you like shrimp, there's this place downtown that has...." and so on and so on.



Then when it came time, it would be nothing more than an I.O.U. that was forgotten completely. At some point I just dropped the whole concept of celebrating a birthday. Or at least the expectations of it. It's not suppose to be a sob story. I'm really over it.. Well, I guess I am. It just becomes an issue when people ask me what I want to do for my birthday. I... I just don't know. Nor do I even know how to approach it. I'm not trying to be egotistical, I'm just completely inept at celebrating a birthday. Hell, I can't even remember half of what I did for my birthdays in my 20's because they're so anticlimactic and unremembered

So when it comes around I freeze up like a deer in headlights. I have no idea what to do. This year I, for a fraction of a second, had it in my mind to suggest all the friends who wanted to go, go mini golfing. But then I blinked when it came time to plan anything. In fact, I really dropped the ball there. So bad that I don't even know what the hell I'm doing tonight for the meal option of my birthday. There's some part of me that just fears enough that things will fail at a birthday celebration that I never get the plans going out of the gate. The girlfriend even asked what I wanted to do... I had no idea. Not that the limited amount of time a weekday provides two busy people's lives doesn't help matters as well..



Moving past the celebration aspect. Now I'm 30 and I'm in this middle awkward stage of my life. I'm told that the biggest thing I should be aware of is that there is zero slack from other adults when you hit 30. When you're in your 20's you can get away with doing stupid things or being a little immature. Once you're 30, all that goes out the window and the expectations of others on you raise drastically.

Soon I'll have to deal with an increasing number of health issues that I never faced before. I'm sure hemorrhoids are just around the corner. No longer can I go out on an all night bender and act like a completely immature or silly guy. Let me tell you, I'm a pretty silly person in general. So I think that's really bothering me. That my immaturity isn't something that is age appropriate for me anymore.


I wonder if you use steam to bake a steam punk cake?

I also hear that time starts to fly. Everyone starts getting married and having kids.. or more kids. You start to realize how old your parents really are. Exercise is going to be a must regularly now. Which is pretty much a must now. I really have to worry about eating healthier. Given, I'm already trying to do that in some fashion in order to lose some weight and get into better shape, but now it's really important as this may be the final chance I do have at this before I get to old and it just becomes too difficult.

I also hear that once you're 30, people in their 20's problems are something you really can't stand listening to as it just sounds like drivel and drama that you're long past. It's sort of like once you hit your 30's you start to sound like your parents. Even if you don't have kids. On the flip side, I also hear that it's when you start to feel comfortable in your own skin and you watch unfold in front of you.


At a crossroads without a Fedex package for
a redhead... Or a Wilson for that matter

I'm really just not sure if I'm prepared for all that. I've become comfortable in what I'm in.. and at the same time I'm feeling like I'm not comfortable in the role I was in my late 20's. My car was destroyed in December and I haven't been made whole from that. I'm still hounding DA workers to try to get resolution from an assault from last January and I have new situation with my building with a Minor kicking in the top apartment window in... So I'm a 30 something year old guy who's not exactly where he wants to be in his career but is just a few inches shy from reaching it.

A state of transition is probably the best description that I can put it as. You know what, Fuck this. Life's more fun when I just stop giving a shit and let the chips fall where they may. It sucks to have a HUMP DAY Birthday cause, well, it's the middle of the god damn week. So clearly this blog needs less emo-sauce and more pop icons singing me some birthday praise.

Let's start with the Ting Tings!


And since I'm so Punk Rock, here's the Ramones!


And it can't be a birthday without the Beatles!


Well.. I do like muppets/puppets


Quite possibly the most gayest birthday party, but hey.. at least it has superheros, right?



Okay, now I feel a little better with Youtube links wishing me a happy birthday.. And not to end this on an emo note or anything, but I'll top this one off with a song that I thing captures my feelings right now fairly well. It's also really nice sound new music by Josh Ritter.


I shouldn't feel different as all today is, is a change of time. Nothing more than a change of time..

Highway To The Elder Zone - Birthday Talk

Highway To The Elder Zone - Birthday Talk

We're now two weeks away from my birthday and I'm facing a strange dilemma, I have no clue what to expect or do for this annual celebration of getting closer to death. This isn't your typical year. No, this year I roll over two digits.

It's been a while since I've been in the age bracket of a successful Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick television production. Not since my late teenage years with My So Called Life. But sure enough, I'm entering a new era of my life.. my ThirtySomethings. I'm not counting the failed Quartlife series, because really, that was a terrible concept and execution.



So yes, I'm turning 30 and while I don't want to admit to feeling old and I certainly don't think I'm looking any older given that people still think I'm about 24, I'm still sort of getting that nagging thought in my mind that I am old. Yeah it's true that men age gracefully. I'm actually really happy about that. I may have a few gray hairs and I could lose a few pounds, but I'm working on that and the gray hairs can pass as distinguished looking.

I guess the problem here is that I have no idea how to celebrate becoming 30. Even if they say that 30 is the new 20, I have no idea what to do or how to celebrate this moment. It has been years since I had much of any sort of party. My birthdays of the past have been very low key. Low key enough that family members don't even remember them and to be perfectly honest, the bar is really set low enough that it sort of depresses me on how unimportant it they seem.



The typical birthday is spent either working or not doing anything special in particular. From the last few years I spent one with an old friend who I haven't seen in ages and it was pretty neat to just hang out in the park and go to a couple of spots to grab food. Nothing all that unique from a typical weekend hanging out together. Last year my girlfriend took me out to eat and made me a pie. That was really good, but I would consider it very low key.

So I'm faced with this question that I always hate to hear people ask themselves.. where to go or what to do for a birthday. I mean, I actually realize how hard it is to come up with something to do on your birthday without sounding like a self absorbed prick. The idea of a Beers-of-the-world party was suggested and I really liked it. But then I thought to myself that not all of my friends have the same level of beer enjoyment as I do or the idea on how to go about doing that. So I sort of lost hope on that one.



Eating out is also an issue. I don't think my idea of a meal out is the same as many of my friends. While I don't mind going to a TGIF (I do mind), I still go along cause they do seem to like it there and it's "reliable". But to go out for my birthday, I would sort of have to curb the inner food in me. And don't get me started on going to a bar or club. I don't think those birthdays are much fun for anyone as it means you don't get to talk much anyway. I'm just so conflicted on what to do and the level of expectation that I have for myself as this is a sort of milestone birthday. The big 30.. I just don't know.

Then there's the situation where no one knows what to get me. I admit, I am very hard to shop for. When it's Christmas or my birthday, it seems like no one knows what to get me. I guess it is due to always having to depend on myself to pick up whatever I wanted as no one else was going to. Now that sounds completely emo, but it's not. I guess it's just something I have to unlearn or at least not hog up away from anyone looking to show their affection towards me through means of gifts.



Besides, if you ever have a hard time figuring out what I like, there's always an Amazon Wish List to look through... Just saying. If you want any ideas, there's a slew of them in there. Besides, I always go to the fall back comment that if you knew me much, you'd know what I like and dislike. So perhaps you shouldn't get me a Rachel Ray cook book. I doubt she could really count her stuff as "cooked" to begin with.

I'm just sort of in a funk in thinking about my birthday and it's not that I'm getting old (well, partially, I suppose) So I'm asking for your ideas on what one could do for their birthday. What are some things you've done in the past and what are some things you think of when you think "Birthday"?



Anyone? Comments, suggestions? What should I expect with turning 30 and how the hell should I even go about tackling such festivities? It really would be a shame to go into a new age bracket the same ol' way I've gone into the past ones.

Help! Anyone?

Happy Carl Sagan Day

Happy Carl Sagan Day

Today is Carl Sagan's birthday. Though he isn't alive anymore, it would have been his 75th. Over the weekend was Carl Sagan day. A day when we should celebrate science in all its forms. Even though he wont be celebrating his own birthday on this day, we should all be celebrating what he brought to you, more than likely when you were a young lad. This significant man showed us how insignificant we reall ya re in the universe.

Carl Sagan was a planetary astronomer and author who wrote to popularize science. But he went far beyond just telling us what’s going on in science in layman’s terms; he set out to connect the entire human existence, from our ancestral roots to our future expansion into space, to the entire universe as it is, to our understanding of it (in its various steps) and how it shaped our lives, to our relations with our world and each other.



A common theme in his writing is the vastness of the space, and the smallness, isolation, and fragility of our planet. Especially in light of his life during the Cold War, he wrote of the fragility of life and our chances of advancing as a civilization past the danger of blowing ourselves up. He wondered if every advanced civilization has to pass that “test” at one point or another.

That brings me to the next theme, his views on alien life. He was a proponent and pioneer of SETI, the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. Taking that it’s a statistical near-certainty that alien civilizations must exist, and the tremendous leap that humanity would make if/when it contacts one, he was driven to explore that possibility. His wonder, however, was tempered by a heavy skepticism of UFO accounts and lack of observed evidence of any other beings. When he died in 1996, we were just discovering the first planets outside our solar system. Now, there are about 400 of them confirmed. I only wish he were alive to see these discoveries!



According to him, our first contact with aliens would be the next of the Great Demotions he wrote about in Pale Blue Dot, a series of realizations of our cosmic insignificance in the face of new discoveries. That insignificance, that aloneness, is the basis of his call for love to one another since we're all we have on our island in the vast void.

He was behind the design of the plaques on the space probes Pioneer 10 and 11, and phonograph records on Voyager 1 and 2, which are now moving away from the Solar system and may serve as a galactic message in a bottle to be found by aliens.



Fun Fact: Sagan and NASA ran into a lot of flack in the late 60's and 70's about the gold plaques on pioneer 10-11 and Voyager 1-2. The former showed naked humans on it, which thousands of people complained to their congressmen over, due to NASA using public funding for sending obscenities to space. There was also feminists that wanted the woman to sport a more detailed vagina.

Also, one of the plaques showed Earth's solar system in relation to neighboring star systems. To give a general guide to where we are. A lot of the general public complained to congress that NASA shouldn't be showing our location to potentially invading aliens to find.. Good to see that we have evolved as a culture in the last few decades to the point that.. oh wait no, we haven't. People still complain and most likely sensationalist media will pick it up and make it a huge story.



His most famous work is the TV series Cosmos, in 13 one-hour parts. It’s on Hulu and Netflix streaming. In each episode he goes over a different aspect of the universe, how we came to learn about it, how it has effected us, and what it means for our civilization. It's a really poetic work, filled with an amazing feeling of wonder and awe.

If Cosmos was about our history, the book Pale Blue Dot is largely seen as its sequel, and deals with our place and future in space. It can be best summarized by this video.



The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark is about rational scientific thinking as our "cure" to our history of superstition, pseudoscience, and belief in the supernatural. It stresses skeptical thinking and education as a defense against getting bamboozled into injustice. The other main theme is the right mix of wonder and skepticism needed to advance science, but keep it honest.

His last book, billions and billions, written while he was dying of cancer, is much more about Sagan's personal opinions and reflections on life in general. It's a good read if you want to learn more about his general view and outlook that he hints at through all his books and articles.



I’m sure most of you that have read the above books would agree with me that they are beautiful works of profound wisdom and insight, and I dare say, should be required reading for anybody who would consider themselves a complete person.

The biggest blow from his death is that I feel no one has taken up the reigns of his roll after he is gone. Richard Dawkins sort of does but he doesn't have the temperance or compassion of Sagan. I guess there's Bill Nye, but he's more of a child educator than an intellectual. I just hope someone can fill that void soon and get a respectable voice for rationality back in the public sphere.



If you have the time, the 13 one hour series "Cosmos" is really breathtaking and mind expanding to watch. If you have Netflix Istant, "Cosmos" is on there. So if you're connected via Xbox or your digital cable provider, you have no excuse. If you don't have those options, "Cosmos" is also available on the internet for free on Hulu.



Viewing that series, you have to really be sad for one simple reason. In all this time, nobody can really fulfill Sagan's role as science popularizer. COSMOS really was a breakthrough for amny children to the wonder of science and natural history. I like Dawkins and I feel he has that certain "wonder" aspect to him but he unfortunately rubs many the wrong way. While I agree with him on religious view points, at least Sagan didn't push that agenda all that much.

Then again, Sagan rubbed many of his colleagues the wrong way. Many felt he was lauded for what was sub-standard work in his field. What many of them did no realize is that Sagan made science accessible to everybody not just fellow scientist. I think that's why our generation loves him so much.



It is historically known that Sagan smoked a lot of weed. But this shouldn't be any reason why you should discredit him by any means. If anything, you should also watch COSMOS high. You'll get a different experience from it. Then again, weed is too small for watching cosmos. You need mushrooms or something bigger. This is based on scientific research just as Mr. Sagan would have wanted it.

Before you consider him just some pot head, remember that up until about 100 years ago 90% of humanity thought that disease was caused by evil spirits. Sagan was able to transcend the idea that space is something us normal people can understand and grasp. For that reason alone, Carl Sagan is about as close as one person can come to completely justifying the existence of the human species. Even if he couldn't cut a pie for shit.



If you were lucky enough to catch the movie The Day After there was a debate afterwards in which Carl Sagan was a part, along with Robert McNamara, Henry Kissinger, William Buckley Jr, and a few others. Worth watching for any Sagan fan and any person who wants to see his passion on the topic of Nuclear Weapons. Part 2 is below, which looks like it is the real start of the debate.



It really is tragic that he died of cancer. I wonder what he would say to the latest achievements we have reached in space exploration. The vast wonders of space travel and the launching of the rovers that are now exploring the planets that he talked about in his Cosmos series.

Today would be a good day to start your exploration into the universe. Not only will be a great way to learn about everything around you, but it'll also teach you a lot about us as people and how we can better treat each other, the planet and the universe around us. With that I leave you again with this one clip.. which should be the only clip you ever need about Carl Sagan.

Knifin' Around

Knifin' Around

It's Easter, hope you hid the fuck'n eggs cause I hear the Big J-man is coming back today and he does not like eggs. Don't you know that's how they came up with this whole hiding the egg stuff. Jesus just hated them. Something about eggs smelling in the desert. They're just no good. Not even making them into some sort of egg salad would help. Have you ever tried to have mayo in that heat? The stuff turns nasty.

Enough about Easter. It's dead to me. After a couple of years where my birthday landed on this festive day of hiding the eggs and mixing my birthday gifts with rabbits and shit like that, I'm done with this spring thang'.



Though at least when my birthday landed on Easter I was sure that then, and only then people wouldn't forget my birthday. Any reader of this upstanding blog would pay notice that this past week held my birthday. It has become clear that my family doesn't read my blog. I suppose that's both a good and bad thing. Good in the sense that they don't hear me shit talk them every so often. Bad in that THEY CAN'T REMEMBER MY GOD DAMN BIRTHDAY!

Not a single phone call, not one. Neither of my sisters, one of which I actually ran across on the day of, said a god damn thing. So my siblings don't know I exist and one doesn't know I know they exist. Interesting. I came to realize that my grandparents calendar was still set to March. So perhaps I should give them a pass on being a bit annoyed that they couldn't remember it. Then I'm reminded on how much I was passed over by them and that pass gets revoked.

I can tell you one thing for sure, besides a lack of phone call of well wishes it also leads to a lack of gifts in the present pile. You recall that old saying about if you want something done right, do it yourself. I've come to realize it all too well.

Some folks would think that it's silly to buy yourself a gift. Even sillier to wrap it. Well, I did just that. One of my favorite gifts I gave to myself was a knife. The Global G-2 Japanese knife. When you absolutely have to slice something right, this is the bad boy to get.



Check out these reviews on Amazon

It's a thing of beauty. If it weren't a knife I would be tempted to make sweet, sweet love to it. But then I'd have a ton of slashes on myself so I'll pass on that. Perhaps there's a metaphor in there. Something about trimming the fat from my life. If you don't want to be apart of it, that's fine with me. I'm not expecting a big party or anything. A simple "Hey, Happy Birthday" would have been awesome.



But even that is tough for some so I guess it's time to cut some dead weight loose. Speaking of knives and cutting, I'll transition to something completely differnet and completely similar. A Space Ghost episode. One in which Thom York of Radiohead and Bjork of the Sugarcubes show up in.

Since it's Easter and I'm done writing and I want to actually enjoy this day, I'll leave you with this master piece of a Space Ghost episode.

Yes, let's all drink till our hearts stop.

Birthday Chocolate Cake!

Birthday Chocolate Cake!

I didn't like cake much when I was younger. Too much bread, not enough.. I dunno.. non-bread. Either way, it's my date of birth and I know I've beaten it into the ground but here's my birthday cake I made for myself.



It's a Chocolate cake shot and oddly enough, it has no chocolate in it. Still very much delicious and while I'm a lush, you should still take my word on it.

To join in at home here's what you do.

You'll need:
1/2 oz Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur
1/2 oz Stoli Vanilla Vodka.

First you frost the rim of an old-fashioned glass with sugar and lemon. Add the vanilla vodka and Frangelico hazelnut liqueur; stir together. Lick the sugar rim, shoot the mixture, and bite a piece of lemon.

Ta-da! It's like chocolate cake in liquid form!

Annual Doctor Check Up

Annual Doctor Check Up

Ah yes, it's my date of birth, perhaps I should check in with my doctor for a yearly check up. All in good time. First I need to check in with my other doctor,

Who?

Exactly. Doctor Who. This may sound completely nerdy -but I've already established that I'm a huge nerd. So the fact that I watch a British science fiction show shouldn't surprise anyone. This very long running science fiction show began being aired on the BBC in 1963. Yeah, it's pretty old now. So I suppose anyone attempting to get into it may be a little intimidated by the number of material out for it.



If you do want to get a start on it, the recent seasons starring Christopher Eccleston in 2005 was a good starting point and didn't have that cheesy 70's sci-fi feel to it. So what's the appeal? Well, he's a time traveling alien who jumps into different adventures in time and space from week to week. What's not to like? He doesn't carry around any massive weapons and battles wrong with wit. The last (well, sort of last) of his race and just going around in an old british police box, he does some pretty cool things and goes on really interesting adventures. It's a fun ride.

Well, the last season of it ended last year and this year they only decided to make four hour long specials before the series turns darker next year under a new creator. So why am I writing about this on my birthday? Since WB already gave me a birthday gift in the form of a mural,



It was only fitting that I shoe horn the whole BBC (and by extent Britian into it) gives me a gift as well. The Doctor is coming back for an Easter special called Planet of the dead. What can we expect from this Easter Special?

After following a mysterious jewel-thief on board the 200 to Victoria station, the Doctor and its passengers are suddenly transported to another world. The Doctor discovers that the desert planet is all that is left of a great civilisation that had reached the pinnacle of achievement. Unfortunately the science the original inhabitants of the world had found resulted in their destruction.

The Doctor does not have his TARDIS and has no way of returning to Earth, so he has to find a way to disable whatever is causing the problem, keep the band of bus passengers together and get everyone home, oh and protect everyone from a band of psychopathic aliens who want to use the power as a weapon.

UNIT makes an appearance as well headed by Captain Erisa Magambo (last seen in Turn Left) and she is assisted by Malcolm, a mad professor who somehow has managed to find a way to communicate with the Doctor.

Oh goodie! Easter now is packed with another important event to look forward to! Though the first and more important one isn't anything to do with a silly rabbit and hiding eggs. But the less I speak about that the better the surprise will be.

Easter Special trailer

Planet Of The Dead. Pitch Black meets Monty Python.

In this Easter special he has a new companion. Oh what a playa'. You can't hate him, you gotta hate the game. Of course the game that he just keeps getting new companions. Maybe it's just that they leave for various reasons. Sometimes they even break his heart.....


Perhaps that's what makes his character so easy to relate to. Though I guess the whole idea of traveling around time/space and finding new and different adventures can be the real appeal here. Besides, what's there not to like about his companions? They're very often beautiful and even if that Police box looks cramped, it's gotta have a lot of room inside.


Who wouldn't want to be in a police box with her?

The companion seems to be the average man, or at least the person us viewers are suppose to relate to the most. Being wowed by these new places and sharing some time, and more than often falling for the Doctor. I mean, isn't he dreamy? But I'll take the other view on this situation. The Doctor is more human in character than his fellow actors. He's just looking for some companionship. Someone to travel with and have fun with.

He's living his life through the enjoyment of others. He loves showing them around. He's not looking for love. Well, at least he's not actively looking for it. As can be seen in this scene here. The moments that get me out of this silly BBC series.


I think that's how I viewed "love" and "relationships" for a long time. I generally just wanted someone to have fun adventures with. The idea of a relationship. That was scary stuff. He's a loner that gets as many people around him and yet he tries to keep his distance.

Sometimes it's good to walk alone but what good is it if you have no one there to enjoy it with? I like the Doctor for that specific reason. He's generally doing good or at least making wrongs right. Maybe it's me growing up with super hero comics. Oh yes, you know me, I just want to save the world. That and not be alone, I suppose.



So here's to watching a new adventure of Doctor Who this weekend sometime. While it may hurt to lose people in your life and believe me, I've been in a sort of retrospect on my life so today with the whole getting older thing, I don't regret much of anything. The people in my life and me who shared an adventure shared it and it was fun. I wouldn't change that for anything. Have it be that they moved on, forgotten me or just left me heart broken, I'm going to constantly look towards those new adventures and enjoy the here and now.

Birthday Wishes

Birthday Wishes

Here's some more self promotion. With my birthday only a few days away perhaps I should actually make up my mind on what I want, right? Especially if I want to avoid the tragic tales of the last couple of years of getting nothing. On the flip side I didn't ask for anything nor was I expecting anything. So I got exactly what I wanted. What can I say, I'm a nihilist. Ok, maybe I'm not. Say What You Will About the Tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at Least it's an Ethos.

So with that in mind I'm not going to be asking for much. Most of these I'll be doing for myself. Who better to give you something than your number 1 fan, yourself. So allow me to indulge myself and speak out loud on a couple of things that I'm looking forward to either getting or doing as I depart from the ripe age of 28.

- Fly a kite.
I'm turning 29 and I feel that till I have children, maybe I'm getting way too old to fly a kite. So sometime before my birthday I would like to fly a kite once more. It'll be a nice little send off to being young. Not saying that it's all over or that I'm feeling my age. It has been some time since I raised a kite into the air. So it'll be nice for this to go up and carry that age in the wind.



-Take a drive.
I used to take these long drives I would just spend 8 hours on. Sometimes they would be weekend adventures. One landed me in Santa Barbra and I just got a hotel and had some wine tasting, a nice hike and then headed back to Los Angeles. I suppose that's more along the lines of a weekend trip but you get the point.



I want to fill up the tank and just drive. Where? I have no idea. When? Hopefully soon. But it'll happen. Oh yes. Some time to reflect on myself and my 28 going on 29 stage. What better way to do that than a drive to the beach/mountain/desert. Popping in some electronic music and I'll have myself a good time.

-Drink Wine on a hillside over looking the sea
Pretty simple request. I enjoy wine. I enjoy it a lot. Well, what alcohol don't I enjoy? Sometimes I enjoy them more than I should. I do like wine because it's a drink that you can drink large great amounts of and all anyone will really care about is that you're creating a palate for what you like.



I have growing a small collection over time. So this one isn't even going to cost much of anything. The cost of gas to get out to a hillside. Why one that over looks the ocean? Or at least has hills that are close to the ocean? Well, I've grown to like Santa Barbara wines and most of them have the taste of the ocean since they're grown and with the cost so close.

- Burn something.
Maybe it's just some wacky thing on my shoulders constantly telling me to burn things but I can't help it. I like fire. As it has been made clear by the burn on my leg, I guess I'm not that good at it. I love BBQ's, I love bonfires. I love burning things. Yes. I'm that crazy kid in your class as a kid who just kept playing with matches or a lighter.... or both (two hands, after all) Well no. Not really. But I do like the smell of a good fire cooking meat. So maybe a BBQ may be in order and would be fun. It is getting warmer, after all.



- Spend time with family?
Oh, this one would be nice. But like communism it's only nice in theory. My parents a couple years back decided that they'd best use the time around my Birthday to travel. So I haven't seen them during my date of birth for a while now. As for my sisters, I guess this one's not such a great cause. They have their own thing going on. This isn't a pity party, so don't take it that way.

I'll just spend the time this year at work and then with the people that seem to mean something. I'll figure it out. I know I'll have a good time.

- Red Rider BB Gun.
Why not. What? I'll shoot my eye out? FUCK YOU, I WONT! Ok, well cross this off my list then. I don't want it anymore. Fucking guns anyway. What does this look like, a gun show?



-Some Romance
Check and Check! <3 style="font-size:130%;">

-A Cake
I'm not much of a cake fan. I haven't ever really been. Don't get me wrong, I like cake. I just don't have much memory of eating them. They can also get really dry. I have really enjoyed tres leches cake. It's like sponge cake with a ton of different milks. How can you go wrong there?

I would like some sort of cake though. You can't put candles on a pie and think it's the same sort of beast. You ever try to put a candle into a Key Lime Pie? Yeah, I didn't think so.



-A Dodger game
This is easier said than done. I don't recall the Dodgers playing on my birthday at home. They're usually away during that day. This year they'll be in Sandy Eggo playing the Padres. Last year I went to way too many games. I think I lost count around 30-something games. While fun, I think this year I'm not going to go to so many games. We are in a down economy after all.

I would like to go to a couple of key games though. The problem is that last year I had some amazing seats behind the home plate. This year, to get the same seats I'll have to be a little more willing to scale back the number of games to get to. So yes, a dodger dog, a beer and I'll be in heaven at Dodger stadium.



- A Trip to the Hollywood Bowl
The summer season hasn't really started yet but I do want to make some sort of solid plans to get to at least one or two concerts for the summer at the bowl. Why? If you don't know the wonders of the Hollywood Bowl then I don't know what your problem is. I love the Hollywood bowl. What's there to not love about being able to bring in your own picnic basket, wine and whatever else to enjoy the night of music.

Especially during the summer months where the nights aren't that much colder than the days it's really a magical experience. I think the only thing that isn't nice about all this is the parking situation. Some proper planning ahead of time and you'll be square on all that. So no worries there. So let's see.. should I go for the Beastie Boys? I just don't know.





-A Trip to the Farmer's Market
It doesn't have to be the actual farmer's market at the grove but I do love the ability to go to the farmer's market and get some fresh produce and get some delicious home cooked meals going in my mind.

I love going to a farmer's market and seeing what fruits and veggies are in season and try to come up with a new dish in my mind with what I can see in front of me. It usually ends up with me getting something tasty. All I know is that I do want to get to a farmer's market some time during the week. The ones I usually know of well are on other days than my birthday. So hey, maybe it'll be a late birthday gift for myself.




So you're more than likely wondering what I got for myself.

Being that comic book day is a day after my birthday, perhaps I'll just splurge a little and have a good happy birthday getting myself comic book nerdy shit that I'll more than likely label myself as a comic nerd to the masses?

A Global Knife
It's a very nice knife. I have been meaning to buy one for some time now. The last good one I had was borrowed a long time ago and I never saw that cook after that. At least they didn't stab me with it before taking off with it.

One sharp gift.


If the advertisements are correct then I only have roughly 25,000 mornings to live out. I think I've used up enough of those. Oddly enough I'm not much of a morning person anyway, so maybe I'm not too worried about not using all those up.

Perhaps some of these gifts will make those days a bit more enjoyable. Who knows. All I know is that I'm going to have a happy birthday and I can't help but look forward to the many years that I'll be gaining on my notch in the years to come.

Tear Down This Birthday Cake!

Tear Down This Birthday Cake!



Accomplishments:

Won the Cold War

Unleashed the longest economic expansion in American history

Maintained peace

President Reagan’s economic policies stimulated the economy, creating 17 million new jobs. One-fourth of the new jobs were created in 68 consecutive months. Black unemployment was cut in half.

We were given incentives to save our money, to work, and to invest because of Reagan’s tax reforms.

The inflation rate decreased to less than 4.4%. Family income rose 12%.

We are now keeping the peace. We drew the line in Grenada, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf, and no countries have fallen to communism during the Reagan era.



The U.S. military was refurbished and strengthened.

We have seen a return to traditional values. Under Reagan, we have seen a cut in federal funding of abortions; emphasis on a strong family unit; and the development of family-oriented public policy.

Educational leaders are now working to sustain moral values and reestablish a clear understanding of right and wrong. The need for values in the curriculum has been trumpeted by the Reagan administration.

People from other nations are flocking to America to follow our example. Our principles of civil and economic freedom are now being copied all over the world.



America Just Prior to the Reagan Administration

1. Seven million Americans were unemployed.

2. We were told to live on less, to buckle our belts and to prepare for scarcity.

3. Americans went through two of the worst years of inflation in 60 years. There was a 13% inflation rate. Family income dropped and we had the highest tax bill in our history.

4. We were on the verge of a major recession.

5. With our cold wars during the ’70s, we inspired our enemies not to be afraid of us. The Soviets refused to come to the bargaining table. Cultural exchanges between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. came to a halt.



6. Disarmament was considered a noble goal. We did not know where to draw the line in our negotiations with the Soviets. Three countries fell to communism under the Carter administration: Benin (1977), Nicaragua (1979), and Zimbabwe (1980).

7. Guns and tanks that did not even work were being sent to battle.

8. Progressive values became fashionable. Social policies emulated the values of a small, vocal minority.

9. Education did not sustain moral values. Educational curricula began to promote “alternative lifesyles,” such as homosexuality.

10. America wore a “kick me” sign on its back. We lost our edge in technology and in global markets due to excessive government regulation, and high taxes which devoured capital.



Now some quotes from the man himself!

quote:

How do you tell a Communist? Well, it's someone that reads Marx and Lenin. How do you tell an Anti-Communist? It's someone that understands Marx and Lenin.

quote:

If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.

quote:

It doesn't do good to open doors for someone who doesn't have the price to get in. If he has the price, he may not need the laws. There is no law saying the Negro has to live in Harlem or Watts.

quote:

Unemployment insurance is a pre-paid vacation for freeloaders.

quote:

We should declare war on North Vietnam. We could pave the whole country and put parking strips on it, and still be home by Christmas.

-Reagan in 1965

quote:

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.

quote:

Approximately 80% of our air pollution stems from hydrocarbons released by vegetation, so let's not go overboard in setting and enforcing tough emission standards from man-made sources.

We will miss you, forever... Well, as long as we can remember.


I mean, you were our governor at some point and all. Just saying, we have fickle memories. But His legacy will still steam forward

Or for at least another 10 years

So who's invited to his birthday celebration?


the most amazing thing is his son turned out to be an awesome liberal who was a ballet dancer, hosted SNL and is an open atheist. how the fuck that happened I dunno. Then again, he hated his son...


say what you will about the bastard, but at least he proved he could take a bullet


Score one for the gipper!